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As I mentioned on another thread, I think Gov Pope nixed this one because he knows it would make it more difficult for individuals to get government assistance. Remember, Pope's whole business model is based on selling cheap garbage to people in minority neighborhoods and poor rural areas that are on fixed incomes in the southeast. If NCs law was also passed by other states, it might impact the number of people who apply for government assistance and hurt sales at Variety Wholesalers.

I doubt that Pat decided himself to veto this one. It's a coordinated bit of political theater for the benefit of the cameras to try to show that Pat isn't a figurehead.

The other veto Pat carried out was on a bill that required a study of illegal immigrants by the Dept of Public Safety.

Tillis said in a statement that while the executive order "shows agreement on important aspects of the bill, I will consult with members of the House and Senate on the questions that remain as we move forward." Tillis said the immigration bill, which largely is comprised of a wide-ranging study on immigration matters, "received strong bipartisan support and sought to provide clarity to employers and agencies regarding the impact of illegal immigration in North Carolina."

The governor's office pointed out legislators provided no funds for the Department of Public Safety to carry out the study.

North Carolina Farm Bureau backed the E-Verify change in part because the 90-day exemption doesn't meet the needs of diversified farms and greenhouse and turf operations. All North Carolina employers with at least 25 workers must use the system to check new hires.

The vetos don't just kill the bills for the session:

The governor is now required to call the General Assembly back to Raleigh by early September so lawmakers can attempt to override his vetoes. Both measures passed the House and Senate in the legislative session's final days last month by wide veto-proof margins. A veto override requires yes votes from three-fifths of the members present in each chamber.

The immigration bill was an inconsequential "study" that resulted from the House & Senate not being able to agree on just how horrific a "driving while brown" bill should be. Vetoing it and the "pee in a cup to get benefits" bill is, as you note, a poor attempt to show that DAG McCrony is something other than Art Pope's hired pen.

It's also a way to get legislators back in town, and I'm sure that they feel that they have some unfinished business. Anyone want to take bets about whether they consider things other than overriding the vetoes? I mean, it's not like Tom Apodaca said anything like this:

“If we have to come back for a veto session,” Apodaca said, noting a possible effort to override the governor’s veto of two bills, “we might have to get (ourselves) some power.”

Perhaps more political theater. It's not too hard to imagine Tillisberger telling Pat to take his pick of bills to veto because they want to get back in session. You know, "get themselves some power". They need more of that.

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"I will have a priority on building relationships with the minority caucus. I want to put substance behind those campaign speeches." -- Thom Tillis, Nov. 5, 2014

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